Info Hub

Info Hub

Castle Pumps Ltd are a market leader in the marine and industrial pump industry and therefore have vast amounts of knowledge on pumps, and the like. This section of the website provides you with information to help you with your pump selection process, ensuring that the specifications you require are met. The info hub also provides pump aftercare information and handy tools such as unit conversion!

Pump Term Glossary

NPSH, Total Dynamic Head and Best Efficiency Point are just some of the terminologies used during the pump selection process, but do you what they mean? Technical jargon can sometimes leave your head in a bit of spin, so if you want to learn the lingo and understand what these words mean, let us guide you through 27 terms that you're likely to come across when buying a pump!

Pump Ordering Guide

With so many pump types, material options and performance specifications it can be difficult to ensure you are buying the right pump - and with factors such as application suitability and pump lifespan also to consider, the purchasing process can be even more difficult. So if you're unsure on the exact pump you require, Castle Pumps have put together the 'pump ordering guide' to help you find a pump that meets your specific requirements.

Pump Specification Form

To make it as easy as possible for the customer, Castle Pumps have devised a pump specification form that prompts the user for the information required to specify a pumping solution that matches their requirements. Upon receipt of the form, Castle Pumps would devise a technical solution, which may include more than one offering, that would then be provided to the customer for verification.

Serial Numbers – The Fingerprints of the Pump World

Knowing the serial number of your pump is important for when calling suppliers, as this is likely to be the first thing they ask you for. Every pump is different, so by having the serial number it can quickly help them to locate the relevant information, therefore quickly helping you along with replacing an existing pump or sourcing spare parts. This guide will help you locate the necessary information such as model and serial number for our most popular pumps.

Pump Maintenance – Why, When and How!

Pumps are a key part of any industrial plant or factory and downtime of a pump can be costly. Therefore, it's important for pump maintenance to be carried out so that downtime can be limited. There are two classifications of pump maintenance; corrective and preventive. Despite corrective maintenance being a quick solution to a problem, it doesn't deal with preventing it from happening again, whereas preventive maintenance does.

Pump Couplings – A Comparison

Understanding pump couplings - a complete guide. In this article we discuss everything you need to know about couplings; from what a coupling is, to the three different types available and the performance of each type. We also talk about the issue of misalignment, a factor which should always be considered when deciding which coupling is the right one for your application.

Pump Impellers – The Types & Their Impact

Impellers are an integral part of a centrifugal pump's operation. They come in varying shapes and sizes, offer an array of performance characteristics and are individually suited to different applications. Find out about the different types of impeller, the impact of diameter and what other factors need to be considered when choosing the right centrifugal pump for you.

7 ways to improve the energy efficiency of your pump

The environmental impact of activities, products and services is measured and monitored now more than ever, especially within the marine and industrial markets. This along with the ever increasing need to reduce costs, means energy efficiency is an important factor - especially where your pumping system is concerned. In this article we discuss 7 ways that you can improve the energy efficiency of your pump...

How to Read a Pump Curve

Pump curves are essential during the decision making process, as they provide the information you need in order to see whether the pump will perform how you need it to! In their most basic form, performance curves contain flow rate and pressure data. Being able to read a pump curve enables you to choose the right pump, rather than choosing one that could potentially cause damage, consume unnecessary energy or perform poorly.

How to Calculate Head Loss in a System

Head loss is an essential part of the preparation of looking for a pump with specific requirements. These head losses - also known as pressure losses - are sustained by the fluid as it flows through the pump and therefore can affect the pumping operation. Being such an important factor when making the decision on which pump to purchase, we have created this section for you to calculate the head loss within your application.

The Importance of Chemical Compatibility

Ever wondered why you can't just have a pump that's suitable for all fluids? Well this article will explain why, and it's all down to chemical compatibility! One of the first questions you'll be asked when sourcing a pump, fitting or pipework is 'what fluid are you handling?', and this is because the fluid will determine what material the pump needs to be made of. This article will explain why chemical compatibility is such an important factor when choosing the best solution for your pumping requirements.

Fluid Compatibility Guide

Doing a fluid compatibility check when sourcing a pump is one of the first things you need to think about! Certain fluid/material combinations can result in corrosion, swelling, brittleness, leaking and even the dissolving of the pump! So ensuring you have the right pump material for the fluid you want, is a must! This fluid compatibility table will give you the information you need to determine which material will suit your fluid best.

Why Viscosity is Critical to Pump Selection

When specifying a pump for oil, we'll need to check what type of oil you'll be pumping. Viscosity is critical for pump selection, and with so many different types of oil it's no surprise that the range of viscosity can vary from oil to oil. Confirming the viscosity of the pumped medium will put you on track to getting the right pump for your application, and this article will explain in depth why knowing the viscosity is so important!

Pressed Metals vs Cast

There are a number of differences between cast and pressed metals, but do you know how they could affect your decision when buying a pump? This article explains in depth what each type means as well as the pros and cons, so that you know which bits of information you should take into account when deciding on the best pump for your process.

Unit Conversion Tool

A unit conversion tool for you to change product specifications into the units that you work with and know best. No more searching the internet for conversion tools that aren't precise or that you can't rely on, and no more trying your hand at tricky maths equations to figure it out. Here at Castle Pumps we've got it covered in just a few clicks!

Positive Displacement vs Centrifugal Pumps

There are two main families of pumps; positive displacement and centrifugal (rotodynamic) pumps, both of which have their uses and best areas of application. It is important however to be able to identify when each pump type should be selected, which ultimately comes down to their working principle and the application at hand. This guide talks through those differences and gives examples of when one is more suited than the other.

Self-Priming vs Submersible Pumps

Submersible pumps are the easy option, but have you ever considered choosing a self-priming pump as an alternative? Self-priming pumps are often overlooked and sometimes not even considered in the first place, but these pumps have a number of advantages. We look at liquid handling, maintenance comparisons and differences in design, before summarising why we believe self-priming pumps to be a good alternative to submersible.

Screw Pumps vs Gear Pumps

For applications involving the transfer of fuels, oils and other lubricating fluids, screw pumps and gear pumps are usually the pumping technology selected. Whilst a gear pump is a more than acceptable option for the handling of lubricating fluids, the design of the screw pump has several advantages over it.

Vertical Immersion Pump Guide

Vertical immersion pumps are a pumping technology with an elongated shaft encased in a column to separate the motor from the pump. Also known as vertical shaft or column pumps, they differ from submersible pumps because whilst their impellers are immersed in the fluid, the motor stays above it. These pumps have several design benefits which give it distinct uses compared to other pump types, and gives suitability for a variety of applications.

Progressive Cavity Pump Guide

Progressive cavity pumps are a type of positive displacement pump known for their ability to handle viscous, shear sensitive and abrasive mediums at high pressures, with a smooth, low pulsating flow. Our progressing cavity pump guide includes technical information on the working principle of this pump type, benefits of the eccentric screw pump design and applications that the design is most suitable for.

Peristaltic Pump Guide

Peristaltic pumps are a popular choice for applications where other pump types fail to meet the requirements i.e. highly viscous or solid laden mediums. In addition, the wide variety of materials that the inner tube is available in, along with the peristaltic hose pump’s seal-less design, means that even aggressive chemicals can be handled.

Rotary Vane Pump Guide

Rotary vanes pumps are part of the positive displacement pump family, designed for the transfer of clean low to medium viscosity fluids and fuels at relatively low pressures. Our sliding vane pump guide covers technical information concerning the mechanism by which the vane pump operates, advantages of the pump’s design and typical applications that vane pumps are often used for. Also included is a trouble shooting guide.

Flexible Impeller Pump Guide

Flexible impeller pumps are a type of positive displacement pump, designed for the low pressure transfer, filling and dosing of a wide variety of fluids including shear sensitive and those containing solids. Our guide to the flexible vane pump design covers its working principle, benefits of the design and the applications that they are commonly used for. Also included is an impeller compatibility chart that determines the fluids each impeller type can be used with.

Side Channel Pump Guide

Side channel pumps have a working principle that is a middle ground between the two main pump families; centrifugal and positive displacement. They are designed for low flow, high pressure applications concerning low viscosity, clean fluids including those being handled at high temperatures and containing a level of gas. This guide provides information on the design benefits and applications that these pumps are suited to.

Air Operated Diaphragm Pump Guide

Air operated diaphragm or AODD pumps as they are also referred to as, are a type of reciprocating positive displacement pump that are powered by compressed air rather than an electric motor that most other pump designs are. They are a versatile design capable of handling low and high viscosity fluids, including those with solids and more aggressive chemicals. Read this guide for more information on their working principle.

Gear Pump Guide

Gear pumps are one of the most popular types of positive displacement pump; with internal and external variations. They are commonly used for the transfer of high viscosity oils and other lubricating fluids at relatively high pressures. This guide gives a detailed insight into the working principle of both external and internal gear pumps and the applications they are typically chosen for.

Multistage Pump Guide

Due to their relative simplicity of design, centrifugal pumps are the most common pump type in the market. Centrifugal pumps are categorised into either single or multistage pumps, both of which have their uses. What is important to understand is where which should be selected, which ultimately comes down to their working principle and the application in question.

Reverse Osmosis Pumps

Industrial wastewater treatment, desalination and the food and drink sector are just some of the industries we provide pumps to and more specifically, reverse osmosis pumps. To understand exactly what reverse osmosis is, how the process works and how these industries use it, we've put together this article explaining everything you need to know.

Cooling Pumps

Whether you're removing unwanted heat from machinery or cooling down a building, many cooling pump applications use water due to it's accessibility and low cost; but water isn't the only resource used for cooling. In this article, we discuss the different methods used in cooling systems and the applications they are commonly used in.